The Clown Murders (1976)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

John, svelte, John Candy in a horror film!Very very cheaply made. Set in Canada. The movie was never released theatrically in the US (VHS then later DVD)It's not a very good movie.I have no idea why John Candy is in this. Very strange. But not in a good way.The plot A group of young professionals decides to play a practical joke on one of their ex-girlfriends who married a rich man who is about to close a major real estate deal. They plan to kidnap her and mess up the deal. Unfortunately, the joke becomes deadly serious.

A group of young professionals decides to play a practical joke on one of their ex-girlfriends who married a rich man who is about to close a major real estate deal.They will kidnap her and mess up the deal.But the joke becomes deadly serious when someone gets killed."The Clown Murders" is a boring thriller with John Candy and Lawrence Dane of "Rituals" fame.It's basically a hostage drama with 10 minutes of slasher in the finale.The killer wears clown costume and the scene in the barn is pretty eerie,but the action is slow and dull.If you liked "Straw Dogs" or "Death Weekend" you may give this one a look,but don't expect too much.5 clowns out of 10.

i want to write this because it seems only people with a.d.h.d seem to be watching it and commenting on it here. not to mention one guy who seems to think horror movies couldn't be made in Canada (hmm...ever hear of black Christmas?). anyway, i blame these misplaced comments on the completely misleading video cover. if you think this is a brain-less slasher, do not watch it! it's not.there's a depth and scale to the story and acting that is not completely obvious to anyone expecting a simple slasher. there are underlying themes in this movie that have more in common with a Shakespearean tragedy than a slumber party massacre. sure it's slow - but this movie wasn't made for the a.d.h.d generation. it's a slow-burn sort of movie. the characters are developed with nuisance, past tensions and feuds erupt, secret lusts slowly bubble to the top. and on top of that! - creepy clowns throughout! does the story make complete sense? no. (and perhaps, i just ended up with a shoddy incomplete copy. after all, there hasn't been an official DVD release of this feature - a shame, considering it's one of john candy's first dramatic roles.) but the few times when i did think, "wtf", it still didn't leave me feeling the film was any less entertaining. it has a nightmarish, surreal quality. it is a tragedy that asks a little more from its audience. it is completely under-rated and well worth watching for anyone with an open mind, respect for character development, and a little patience.

A horror movie from Canada? What could they possibly fear up there? That hockey gets outlawed? That beer gets outlawed? Apparently, those Hosea's fear someone dressing up as a clown and going on a killing spree. And the movie about it, "The Clown Murders" is almost a zero. Only the presence of John Candy saves it, and that's only minimally. Just what is the guy who had his hand between two "pillows" in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" doing in this kind of a movie? So, I wasted two bucks on this stinker. At least now I can tell people how bad it was. If you want a horror movie relating to clowns, then "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" and "It" are truly cinematic gems. And if you want a horror movie from Canada, then "The Brain" is pretty cool. But quite literally, the only excuse for blowing your money on "The Clown Murders" would be to see John Candy in an early role.